November 18-25, 2006
I traveled to CA to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. I was able to see most of my friends throughout the week, which was a lot of fun. And of course, my family had a typical (large) Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday, with turkey and all the fixins'!
On Tuesday night, I gathered friends at John Colins bar for drinks. I was surprised (and flattered) so many showed up! Thanks for coming everyone!
On Wednesday, I spent the afternoon baking pumpkin cupcakes with Janet and Ellie. This yummy Martha Stewart recipe was supposed to make 18 delicious treats.
However, 18 was a bit of an under-estimate. Our 18 cupcakes overflowed and became one ugly uni-cupcake.
The worst offender of the bunch.
How to salvage 18 monster cupcakes? Cupcake surgery!
Post surgery, we had 18 over-sized, oddly shaped cupcakes.
The second batch turned out much better, as we determined the recipe was better suited for 24 cupcakes.
While we baked and trimmed cupcakes, Ellie read her book and counted trains.
Happy girl!
Then she combed her hair.
And jumped around and spun in circles.
Then we did some sketching.
Ellie made me dinner in her kitchen.
And talked on her phone - "It's daddy!"
After dinner, we made the cream cheese frosting.
Ellie did a great job decorating the frosted cupcakes with sugary leaves - she called it "making leaves" and told us many times how much she loves cupcakes.
The finished product - you almost can't tell the giant ones from the normal ones!
Mom and Auntie Marilyn at Thanksgiving lunch (hosted by cousins Glen and Brenda).
Uncle John and Edward catch up.
Steffane makes friends with Brenda's dog, Millie. Steff is currently training a future guide dog at home!
Lawrence helps himself to some food.
Check out this spread!
Auntie Marlene and Hillary made a gorgeous (and
delicious!) cake.
We also celebrated Auntie Marie and Uncle Bob's 60th Anniversary.
Sixty years and going strong!
The happy couple and their three grandsons, Brian, Ian and Jason.
The party rages on.
My little bro.
Steffane and Ariana play with Millie.
Mommy and me (with Edward's eye peeking thru).
Jason plays waiter.
A game of Cranium in the living room.
Millie does tricks for treats.
Millie and me.
Later that night, back at Edward's, we celebrate Deirdre's mom's birthday.
On Friday, I watched ice skaters at Embarcadero
while waiting for mom to come have lunch with me.
The rotating restaurant at the top of the Hyatt.
Cable car going up California Street.
Later, at a birthday party at Silver Clouds, Amanda gets on stage (in the car, on the left), but doesn't take the mic.
Paulie and me, NOT singing karaoke. A great way to end a great week in SF!